Counterbalance for the discharge apparatus for coal or ore bins



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. W. ERIOSON. GOUNTBRBALANOE FOR THE DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR GOAL ORORE BINS.

No. 485,789. Patented Nov. 8,1892.

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(No Model.) 2 Shets-$heet 2. R. W. ERIOSON.

COUNTERBALANOE FOR THE DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR GOAL 0R ORE BINS. No.485,789. Patented NOV. 8, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD WV. ERIOSON, OF AURORA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PETTIBONE- MULLIKEN &COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COUNTERBALANCE FOR THE DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR COAL 0R ORE BlNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,789, dated November8, 1892.

Application filed September 2, 1892. Serial No. 444.875- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD W. ERICSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in a Oounterbalance for theDischarge Apparatus for Coal or Ore Bins, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is in the nature of an improvement on the chutecounterbalancing means shown and described in Letters Patent of theUnited States No. 412,374, dated October 8, 1889, and No. 435,356, datedAugust 26, 1890. Y

My present improvement involves .two additional ways of applying theprinciple of operation of the counterbalance in each of the aforesaidpatents-namely, that of affording a resistanceto the downward movementof the chute on its pivot varied according to variation in the gravityof the chute by the chute, which is connected from near its free endwith the weight'lowering and raising the weight through a defined arc.

The generic peculiarityin m yimprovement consists in thecounterbalancing-weight being supported on a sustaining-base to beraised and lowered by the fall and rise of the pivotal chute from oneend upon its opposite end, which thus affords a fulcrum and which isformed to produce a shifting fulcrum, whereby the leverage of the weightis increased with the descent of the chute and decreased by its rise,and the weight bears at its fulcrum on the supporting-base till thechute reaches or approaches nearly to its lowest (and thereforeheaviest) position, wherein it has raised the weight completely from thesupporting-base thereof and holds it by the connecting cable suspendedto exert the greatest resistance in opposition to that of the chute.

My improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a view in cross-section of an ore-dock havinga pivotal chuteprovided with my improved counterbalance. Fig. 2 is a view of the samein front elevation. Fig. 3

is a view like that presented in Fig. 1, but showing a modifiedconstruction of my improved counterbalance.

ling the weight in adirection opposite that of winding the chain 0 mayall be of known or any suitable construction and need not therefore beherein described in detail. Below the bin is the supportingtrack orplatform Efor the counterbalancing-weight F. In Fig. 1 the weight isrepresented as a rectangular block resting normally flat upon ahorizontal base E and provided with a rear extension F from its'fupperside, being connected from its forward'end with the chute C through themedium of the cable 0, which passes from the drumpover suitableguidesnundera pulley men the weight and to a fastening-point Zat the rear ofthe dock or at any other suitable location. In Fig. 3 the base E isinclined from the horizontal, and the weight F, which is connected withthe chute, as represented in Fig. 1, differs from the weight showninthat figure by having the rear extension F formed by a rearward andupward bevel, extending from (or from near) the base to the top of therear end, where the weight is provided at the opposite extremities 7.:and t of its beveled end with rollers 70'. The showing in Fig. 2 mayapply to the construction presented in either of the other views.

The operation is as follows: As the chute (with reference to Fig. 1) islowered from its raised position or position of least resistance,wherein the weight F-rests flat upon its supporting-base, the cable 0'is Wound upon the drump in the direction to shorten it, and therebyraise the Weight on its rear lower edge 7r, then forming its fulcrum,from which its leverage is exerted on the chute through the intermediateconnections therewith. As the descent of the chute and its resistanceaccordingly increases, the weight assumes the position of bearing at theend i of its extension F, which then afiords the fulcrum from which theleverage of the weight is exerted and increased accordingly, and as thechute reaches its lowest position the Weight is raised entirely from itstrack or platform E, and

5 thereby suspended entirely on the cable 0',

as represented by the dotted lines, in which position it brings thegreatest resistance to bear against that of the chute. As the chute israised the relative conditions of the weight are obviously reversed.

With reference to Fig. 3 the operation is practically the same as thatalready described, though it will be noticed that the incline or bendfrom the horizontal in the track or r5 platform E the more gradually inlowering the chute increases the resistance of the weight exerted firstfrom its fulcrum k and then from its fulcrum '11, and in raising thechute decreases the resistance thereof then exerted from its fulcrumiand afterward from its fulcrum it.

With either of the described constructions it will be apparent that thecounterbalancingweight in being raised and lowered on its support E ismoved through a defined arc, and

that while being moved on its said support its fulcrum is shifted tovary the leverage and accordingly its degree of resistance, withcorresponding variation in the resistance of the chute.

What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the pivotal chute and hoisting mechanismtherefor, of a coal or 5 ore bin, a support E below the bin, a Weighthoisting mechanism and connected with the weight at the end thereofopposite its said fulcrums, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

- 2. The combination, with the pivotal chute 5 and hoisting mechanismtherefor, of a coal or ore bin, a support E below the bin, a weight F,normally resting on the support and having at one end an extension F,affording fulcrurns 71 audio, and a cable 0, fastened at opposite ends,respectively, behind the chute, as at Z, and to the hoisting mechanismand connected with the weight at the end thereof opposite its saidextension, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, With the pivotal chute and hoisting mechanismtherefor, of a coal or ore bin, an inclined support E below the bin, aweight F, normally resting on the support and having at one end anextension F, affording fulcrums 2' and k, and a cable 0, fastened atopposite ends, respectively, behind the chute, as at Z, and to thehoisting mechanism and connected with the Weight at the end thereofopposite its said extension, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. The combination, with the pivotal chute and hoistingmechanismtherefor, of a coal or ore bin, an inclined support E below the bin, aWeight F, normally resting on the support and having at one end anextension F, affording fnlcrums 2' and k, rollers 70' at the said fulcrums, and a cable 0', fastened at opposite ends, respectively, behind thechute, asat l,

and to the hoisting mechanism and connected with the Weight at the endthereof opposite its said extension, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the pivotal chute and hoisting mechanismtherefor, of a coal or ore bin, an inclined support E below the bin, aweight F, normally resting on the support and carrying at one end apulley m and beveled at its opposite end, the bevel forming an extensionF, affording fulcrums iand k, rollers 76' at the said fulcrums, and acable 0, fastened at opposite ends, respectively, behind the chute, asat l, and to the hoisting mechanism and passing between its ends underthe pulley m, the whole being constructed and arranged to operatesubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

RICHARD W. ERICSON.

In presence of W. H. DEPUNG, L. J. LINDQUIST.

